Distributing system



June 24, 1930. A. D. PRITCHAR 1,765,447

DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filedpril :50. 1927 a sheets-sheet 1 June 24, 1 930. A. D. PRlTcl-IARD DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed April 30, 1927 2 Sheets-.Sheet 2 Patented .une 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFrCE Amos DURBIN ERITCHARD, OE CHICAGO, ILL'TNors, Ass-IGNOR To WEsTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK` DISTRIBUTING; sYsTEM Application filed April 3o,

This invention relates to distributingsys` tems, and more -particularly to an electric wiring distribution system for building construction.

In the construction of ,15 phone, lighting, and other lines so as toreduce toa minimumythe subsequent lalterations or extensions necessary. However, inv

some instancesit is inconvenient or almost impossible to denitely determine in advancethe precise locations Where outlets may ultimately be required. Y

The principal object of the present lnven- Vtion is the provision in building construction of an improved and economical system where-k by electrical power, lighting, telephone or other service may be readily vand convenient ly supplied to any position withinj the building where the subsequentneed thereof may arise.

In accordance with the general features of the invention as embodied in concrete floor.

construction, wooden sleeper strips arranged in parallel formation and spaced at suitable distances apart are embedded in the concrete floor slab in such manner that the upper. surfaces thereof are flush with thesurface 4of the concrete and serve as a means forsecur'ing or supporting the floormg'whrch may com*n rise ywooden blocks, tile, linoleum, etc'.

40 roovesprovided on the undersides of these strips terminate `in trenchesv or main ducts,

such as are usually provided.v in building-construction for housing power, lighttelephone, gas, compressed air or other lines. 4As, the

,y need `arises a line is run from the mainrduct a factories and large` oice buildings the present-day general use.v

192'?.4 serial No. 188,030.

through the groove in the sleeper strip closest to the position where the service is required and then upwardly through openings then made in the sleeper strip and the flooring.

rOther features and advantages of the invention willbecomey apparent from thevfollowing detail description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan viewpartly in section offa portion of a floor construction embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is afragmentary transverse vertical section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 isan enlarged perspective view of a portionof the structure shown in'F ig. l, and Fig. l, is an enlarged transverse section through one of the sleeper strips. The invention is herein illustrated and clescribed in Vconnection with .floor construction. It shouldy be understood, however, that the features lof the invention are equally applica-` bleto wall Or ceiling construction.

v Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral' lOfindi'cates apportio'n of a floor slab constructed with thev usual trench or main duct l1 (Fig. 2) for housing electrical Y orother service lines. *Wooden channel mem* bers or sleeper strips 12 supported upon sheet metal-strips l'are embedded in the concrete slab l0 in such manner that the. upper surfaces y.thereofare ina common plane with the surface ofthe slab, as best shown in Fig. 3. The edges of the sleeperstrips l2 are tapered7 as indicated 'atl (Fig. 4)-, to insure maximum rigidity when 'embedded in` the concrete. Anrv upper-"floor layer which maybe composedlof wooden blocks 17' or other suitable material islaid overjthe concreteslabflO and the sleeper strips 12. Grooves or ducts '18 extendinglengthwise'on `the undersides of the sleeper strips l2 terminate inlthemain lduct l1. These grooves arev adapted/to accommodate electrical power or other'service groovelS. Forthis purpose, a removable plate 22 is usually provided over the main duct 1l so that access to the lines contained therein may be readily and conveniently had. After the connections have been made, the

blocksl 17 are grooved .or'otherwiseiformedV and replacedin position so as to provide an opening, as indicated at 24 (Fig. 2) forjthe passage of the conductors therethrough.`

From the above description it vis obvious" that the present invention providesa simple and economical system for the distribution of power, telephone or other'serviceto any location upon a floor Where such service may at any time be required. It should be understoodV also that portions ofthe sleeper strips i2 may be very readily removed and replaced by'strips having straight edges When for any reasons it becomes necessary to do so.

A though only one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it should be understoodv that the in-V vention is capable of otherV applications Within the scope of the appended claimsJ What is claimed' is:

l. A concrete floor construction comprising a concrete slab and a member groov'edv on its under side and havinga plane upper surface, said member being embedded inthe concrete vWith its upper surface in a common plane VWith the upper surface of the concrete, and a removable'upper floor layer supported upon the concrete and the grooved member.

. 2. In. a .service distributing system forV buildings, la supporting slab having a mem-` berf embedded therein, said member having a plane upper surface and being embedded y in such manner that the upper` surface of the member is ina common plane with the upper surface of the slab, the Vmember being grooved on its opposite side to `provide a passage. for accommodating fa service'dist'ributing line.

3. In a service .distributingY system for `floors, a supporting slab, a removable upper floor layer engagingand supported upon the slab, anda plurality of sleeper strips having flat upper surfaces and having grooves'on their undersides for housingV service distributing lines, the sleeper strips being arranged in parallel and spaced relationship and embedded Within the supporting slab in such manner that the upper surfaces thereof ing line.

are in a common plane With the engaging surfaces of the upper floor layer and the supporting slab, whereby service may be readily supplied to any position upon the floor by removing a portion of the upper floor layer and cutting through a sleeper strip at any point therealong to gain access to the service distributing lines contained therein.

4. A building construction comprising a supporting slab having a conduit member having a plane surface and embedded in the slab with said surface-'flush with the upper surface of the slab, said member having a longitudinallyV extending, open groove on its under side for housing service' distributing` umg Y.

5. A building construction comprising asupporting slab, a removable covering engaging and supported upon the slab, and a conduit member having a plane vsurface and embeddedy Within the slabfinv such manner that said surfaceis ina commoniplane with the engaging surfaces vof the slab and the covering, said member being grooved on its oppo` site side to accommodate a service distribut- 6. In a floor construction, a concrete slab having a conduit member embedded therein for housing service distributing lines, said conduit membercomprising a pairV of spaced side portions and an integral Ycontinuous top portion, the upper surface ofthe topportion being plane and disposed flush With'the upper surface of the slab; f

7. In a floor constructionY vafconcrf-iteslab l having a Wooden sieepernieinber embedded therein and adapted to receive securing means for flooring, said sleeper member comprising a pairv of spaced side portions and an integral continuous top portion, the upper surface'of the top portion being substantially flat and in a common plane with ythefupper 'surface of the slab, and a plate member engaging the bottom edges of theside portions for cooper'` ating Av vitli thelsleeper member to provide 'a lined passageway for v housing 'service distributing lines. V i' 'Y hf f l' 8. In aiioor construction,VV a 'concrete'slab having a conduit member embedded thereinVV comprising a substantially i'iat'top portion and a pair of spaced doivi'iu'ardlyeirtending side portions tapering Voutwardly therefrom,

lthe uppersurface of thev top portion being in a commonplane Withfthe upper surfaceof the slab and being adapted lto'receive securingmeans for flooring. i

9. In a doorconstructionfa vconcreteslab having `a Wooden conduit member` embedded thereinV and. comprising a substantially flat top portion and a pair offspaced downwardly :exten dingjside' portions of'substanti al thickness, the upper Y surfaceofthe top por'- tion being in a'common plane vwith the; upper surface ceive securing means for flooring.

ofthe '/slab'and beiiig-adaptedftofre- 10. In a floor construction, a floor slab having a conduit member embedded therein, said conduit member Comprising an upper portion having a plane upper surface positioned flush with the upper surface of the floor slab and a pair of spaced downwardly extending side portions of substantial thickness, the conduit member being adapted to receive se# curing means for flooring.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 19th day of April, A. D. 1927.

AMOS DURBIN PRITCHARD. 

